THE LENNOX AND ADDINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

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Fredericksburgh Assessment Roll, 1845.

Preface:

Fredericksburgh township was surveyed in 1783 and markers for the lot lines placed in 1784.
Due to the strong desire of the Loyalist settlers for each of the Loyalist corps to remain together
(and not be split between townships) the eastern portion of Adolphustown were taken away and
added to Fredericksburgh. These lands have been known for over two hundred years as the
Fredericksburgh Additional. The main part of Fredericksburgh is known as the Fredericksburgh
Original. This is an important point for the researcher to grasp, as it means that lot numbers one
to twelve have been used twice. The researcher must know whether the lot is in the Original, or
the Additional.

After years of bickering, Fredericksburgh was split in June of 1857 to create North
Fredericksburgh and South Fredericksburgh. South Fredericksburgh comprised concessions I
through III. North Fredericksburgh comprised concessions IV through VII and included the
urban developments of Napanee which lay south of the Napanee River (Clark[s]ville and South
Napanee). Ironically, the two Fredericksburghs are united once again, as they are now both part
of the municipality of Greater Napanee.

Fredericksburgh families have always proudly proclaimed that they were holding Town Meetings
as early as their neighbours in Adolphustown, but unfortunately almost nothing from the period
before Confederation (1867) survives. In June, 1907, Peter Bristol presented to the Lennox and
Addington Historical Society one of the precious few documents from the pre-Confederation
period, an Assessment Roll from 1845. This lists all 508 people who were to pay property tax for
1845, either because they owned land, or because they had an agreement with the land owner that
they would pay the tax. It is not a full census in the way we understand the word. Not included
are clergy, teachers, squatters, paupers and tenants who were not involved with property tax
agreements. Also not included are 255 adult males who were members of landed families but
not obligated by property tax. Some of the names on the roll did not live in Fredericksburgh, but
were what came to be known as "non-resident" property owners. Therefore, the researcher is
advised to take care before making assumptions!

Citation should read, "Transcription of an Assessment Roll used by the Township of
Fredericksburgh, 1845, original now in the Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives,
Napanee".

Buildings: Unless otherwise noted in the entry, the family is living in a one-storey, frame house.

Question: What is meant by additional ?

Answer: It means that the land is situated in the portion of Fredericksburgh known as the
Additional. See explanation above. Note: This Assessment Roll is a little difficult to decipher. We
have assumed that the scrawled letter "a" next to the entry is meant to be read as "in the Additional".